I think GP's point was that even using less stuff, including energy, you're still using stuff. At some point, there won't be any more stuff to use. We'll have millions of years of solar power, but what happens when all other resources are used up and all waste is too degraded to efficiently produce new items?
We will be able to recycle many more things before that ever happens.
Shift economic goals away from GDP growth
Even under communism the goal for the economy was growth. We can make a goal that negative externalities are accounted for, but convincing people to "not chase affluence" is dubious.
Exactly. It's just more fear porn.
Brain fried -- Core dumped